Cutting machine



July 1, 1925. I 1,545,332

, N. KASE CUTTING MACHINE Filed Sept; 24, 1924 WITNESSES YINVENTOR ATTORNEYS NATIIAN KAs'z'.

'Patented July "7, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

NATHAN KASE, or BROOKLYN, New YORK, Assienoa tro' POLKASE MFG. 00., or NEwj YORK, N. Y., A coRronArIoN OFNEW YORK.

CUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed September scription.

This invention relates to machines for cutting resilient Compressible substances and has particular reference to a machine which is especially designed for slitting rubber sponges in order to provide a pocket therein for the reception of soap cakes.

It has been found in practice that resilient compressible substances or articles such as rubber sponges, must of necessity bematerially compressed in order to facilitate the cutting of the same and it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a machine by means of which the compression and cutting of said substances or articles may be expeditiously and effectually accomplished.

As a. further object the invention contemplates a machine of the character set forth in which means is provided for regulating the depth of thecut to be madeand in which means is afforded for properly lubricating the cutting element to reduce friction andprevent overheating of the cutting element.

As a still further object the invent-ion con'iprehends means for sharpening the cutting edge of the cutting element.

The invention furthermore resides in the provision of a machine of the character set forth which is comparatively simple in its construction and mode of operation, inex pensive to manufacture and which is thoroughly reliable and highly eiiicientin its,

\Vith the above recited and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction set forth in the following specr fication, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated inthe accom- Y panying drawings, it being understood that the right is reserved to embodiments other than those actually. illustrate-d herein, to the 24, 1924. Serial No. 739,609.

chine constructed in accordance with the invention'and illustrating aisponge in position andprior to the compression and movement of the same into engagement with the cutting element. 7 I i Fig. 2is a similar fragmentary View illustrating the sponge in compressed condition and in engagement with the cutting element; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken approximately on the line indicated at'33 in n I l lg. 2,

Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of a sponge aft-er the slitting 'operat1on is completed.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference 10 designates a base or bedprovided with a standard 11 projecting up wardly therefrom. A motor 12 is supported by the base at one side of the standard and the motor shaft13 is provided with a bevel gear 14. which meshes with a bevel pinion 15 secured to a rotary cutting element 16 preferably in' the; nature of a dislrknife.

upon the motor casing for movement to active or inactive relation to the cutting edge of the knife 16. As illustrated the bracket pivot 22 has secured thereto a bevel pinion 23engaged by abevel gear 24 on a crank shaft25 which crankshaft is provided with a manipulating'handle 26 and which is normally moved under the influence of aspring 27 to a position to dispose the sharpening rollers 20out of engagement with the cut ting knife. I y A V i The mechanism for receiving, compressing and moving the sponge to a position for slitrectangular cage28 supported by thestand ard 11 and'which includes a rear wall 29,

side walls 30 anda bottom wall 31 throughting by the cutting element 16 comprises a which the upper portion of the cutting element 16 projects; A horizontal platform or table 32 1S vertically movable betwecn'the rear and side walls 29 and 30 of the cage and is provided with a'longitudinal slot 33 to permit'of the'projeotion'of the knife or cutting element thereabove upon lowering of theplatform; The platform lsprovided with a plurality of dependin legs 34L which project through openings in th bottom wall 31 of the cage and which are formed at their lower ends with heads 35 for limiting the upward movement of the platform. A coiled expansion spring 36 surrounds each le and is interposed between the under side of the platform and the upper side of the lower wall of the cage for normally elevating the platform to dispose the same slightly above the upper periphery or cutting edge of the knife 16. A substantially U-shaped or semi-elliptical sponge embracing element 37 is also mounted between the rear and side walls 29 and 30 of the cage 28 for limited vertical movements, said element 37 being provided with guide trunnions SS'engageable in vertical slots 39 in the side walls 30 of the cage. The lower bight portion of the member 37 is slotted as at 40 in alinement with the slot 33 in the platform 32 to receive a portion of the cutting edge of the knife 16 and said bight portion is further provided onopposit sides of the slot 40 with apertures 41. The platform '32 is provided with upwardly projecting sponge engaging and retaining pins 42 disposed in alinement with the apertures and projecting therethrough.

The standard 11 is provided with a vertical guide groove 45 in the side face thereof to which the cage is attached and the rear wall 29 of the cage is provided with a parallel slot 16 of slightly lesser width than the groove 15. The forward face of the standard 11 is also provided with a guide groove 17 and a rack bar 48 is vertically movable therein by means of a pinion 49 journaled to the standard. The pinion 19 is connected to a'balance wheel 50 which in turn is provided with a manipulating crank 51. The

upper end of the rack 48 is attached to a vertical slide bar 52 movable with the rack in the guide groove 15 and retained therein the manipulating edges of the rear' wall which define the slot 46. VA laterally projecting bracket 53 is securedon the slide bar 52 and has attached to its under side a pressure element 54 which is vertically movable with respect to the cage 28' and toward and away from the sponge embracing member 37.

. In use and operation of the machine the motor 12 is started to drive the cutting element or knife 16 which is rapidly rotated thereby. IVith the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 1 the sponge S is inserted as shown. The operator turns the operating crank 51 in a clockwise direction whereby the pinion 4C9 engaging the rack 48 moves the same downwardly simultaneously with the slide bar and pressure element 5st. The pressure element 54c'enga'ges and compresses the sponge in the sponge embracing element 37 until thetension on the sponge exceeds the tension of the springs 36, at which point the platform 32 and sponge embracing ele ment 37 start to lower so that the upper portion, of the cutting element or knife 16 protrudes through the slots 33 and 10 into engagement with the sponge. Further continned downward movement by continued rotation of the crank 51 effects a further compression of the sponge while at the same time advancing the sponge further beyond the periphery or cutting edge of the knife 16. In orderto adjustably limit the depth of the cut to be made, the upper end of the slide bar 52 is provided with an interiorly threaded bearing gear 55 through which a stop screw 56 is threaded, the lower end of which is adapted to engage with the upper end of the standard 11. This arrests further downward movement and upon manipulation of the stop screw 56 it is obvious that the depth of the cut may be controlled.

'After the slit has been made, the operator moves the crank in a contra-clockwise direcof contact with the sponge Stand permits the springs 36 to elevate the platform 32 and sponge embracing member 37 to normal position whereby the sponge is disposed above the cutting edge or-periphery of the knife 16 after which the sponge is removed and a new one inserted. 1

The retaining pins 42 function to engage and retain the lower end of the sponge against lateral movement and to properly position the same during thecutting operation.

In order to provide means for lubricating the knife or cutting element 16 to prevent undue friction and overheating thereof, a lubricant reservoir 60 is supported by a bracket 61 from one of the end walls 30 of the cage 28 and said reservoir communicates with a depending conduit 62 having branch conduits 63 the open terminals 6% of which are disposed at opposite sides of the cutting edge of the knife. A. suitable valve 65 and controlling means 66 is provided for. establishing and cutting off communication between the reservoir 60 and the conduit'62.

In the main use of the device, namely for slitting substantially oval rubber sponges S as illustrated in the drawings, the pressure element 54: is of a peculiar configuration for the purpose of subjecting the lower end of the interior of the sponge to the cutting or slitting action by the knife or cutting element 16. As will be noted the pressure element consists of an arcuate plate or member having aconcave surface which conforms to a portion of the upperend of the oval sponge S and which is further provided with upwardly curved or convex ends,.the lengthiof said plate or member '54 beingiless than the maj or width of the sponge so that upon full compression of the sponge, the interior thereof is slitted from one end' throughout the major portion of its length and to a point slightly within the opposite end to form a pocket of sufiicient depth to readily receive a bar of soap of the average size.

I claim:

1. A machine for cutting compressible objects or substances comprising a revolving cutting element and means for receiving, compressing and advancing said objects or substances into engagement With the cutting element said means comprising a slotted platform for movement toward and away from the cutting element to permit the cutting element to extend through the slotted portion when moved toward the same, tension means for normally moving the platform away from the cutting element and for tensioning the same against movement toward said element, a member super imposed on the platform for receiving and partially embracing the compressible object or substance, said member having a registering slot, a guide cage in which the plat-form and member are movable and a pressure member engageable with the object or substance, upon compression of which, the receiving and embracing member and the platform are movable against the action of the tension means to engage the object or substance withthe cutting element.

' 2. A machine for cutting compressible objects or substances comprising a revolving cutting element and means for receiving, compressing and advancing said objects or substances into engagement with the cutting element, said means comprising a slotted platform for movement toward and away from the cutting element to permit the cutting element to extend through the slotted portion when moved toward the same, tension means for normally moving the platform away from the cutting element and for tensioning the same against movement toward said element, a member superimposed on the platform for receiving and partially embracing the compressible object or substance, said member having a registering slot, a guide cage in which the platform and member are movable and a pressure member engageable with the object or substance, upon compression of which, the receiving and embracing member and the platform are movable against the action of the tension means to engage the object or substance with the cutting element and means for lubricating the opposite sides of the revolving cutting element to prevent excessive friction and overheat-ing thereof. I

3. A machine for cutting compressible objects or substances comprising a revolving cutting element and means for receiving, compressing and advancing said objects or substances into engagement with the cutting element,.sa1d means comprismg,

a slotted platform for movement toward movement toward said element, amember super-imposed on the platform for receiving and partially embracing the compressible object or substance, said member having a registering slot, a guide cage in which the platform and member are movable and a pressure member engageable with the object or substance, upon compression of which, the receiving and embracing memher and the platform are movable against the action of the tension means to engage the object or substancewith the cutting element and means for adjustably limiting the movement of the pressuremember to regulate the depth ofthe cut to be made.

A machine for cutting or splitting rubber sponges to provide a soap bar receiving pocket thereinhaving an entrance mouth at one end, said machine compris ing a revolving knife, and mechanism for simultaneously compressing and advancing the sponge against the knife whereby to out while the sponge is compressed a slit in one end thereof extending into the core of the sponge for the major portion of its length.

5. -A. machine for cutting or slitting compressible o-bjectsto form a pocket therein, comprising a rotary knife, means for receiving and normally supporting said object out of contact with the peripheral cutting edge of the knife, means engageable with said object for compressing the same against the receiving and supporting means and for advancing said object and the receiving and supporting means toward the knife when the compression of the object exceeds a predetermined degree.

6. A machine for cutting or slitting compressible objects to form a pocket therein, 7 comprising a rotary knife, means for receiving and normally supporting said object out of contact with the peripheral cutting edge of the knife, means engageable with said object for compressig the same against the receiving and supporting means and for advancing said object and the receiving and supporting means toward the knife when the compression of the object exceeds a predetern'iined degree and means for adjustably limiting the movement of said compressing means whereby to regulate the depth of the cut to be made.

NATHAN KASE.

.ment and for tensioning the same against 

